DYERSBURG STATE FALLS TO GA HIGHLANDS IN DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

Dyersburg State hosted Georgia Highlands this pas week in the Appalachian District Championship with the winner advancing to the 2024 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series.  The Eagles won the first game 3-2 in the best of three series, but fell in the final two games by scores of 13-4 and 10-1.

Dyersburg won the first game as they scored three runs in the top of the third inning after Highlands had take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Tommy Melvin would score the first run on a groundout.  Luis and Enrique Alverez, Jr.  would then score as Enrique would double Luis home and then Enrique would come around and score on  Perker Patterson double.  Jacob Sitton would go the distance as he allowed two runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts.  Melvin, Edward Mateo, and Jake Santos each would have two hits in the game.

In the first game On Thursday, Highlands would score five runs in the second inning and three more in the third to secure the win and tie the series.  The Eagles manaaged only five hits in the game with no one having multiple hits in the contest.  Amir Streeter had a solo home run in the game.  Cole Cates took the loss on the mound as he gave up eight runs (only four earned) on 10 hits and two walks.  He struck out four in his three innings of work.

In the deciding game, Highlands once jumped out early as they tallied six runs in the top of the second.  The Eagles scored their lone run in the ninth inning as Patterson hit a solo home run.  Dean McCalla was the pitcher of record as he allowed nine runs on nine hits and three walks with three strikeouts in seven innings of work.  Mateo had three hits in the game while Patterson had a single to go with his home run.

The Eagles ended the season with a 29-26 overall record.